Nathan Baker might not be risked by Bristol City when they meet Ipswich Town at Ashton Gate on Saturday in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Robins, who sit one place off the top six, continue their chase for a play-off place when the Tractor Boys visit BS3.

City have claimed just two wins in the last 16 matches in all competitions – with their last victory coming against Sheffield Wednesday some weeks ago.

The likes of Callum O’Dowda and Jens Hegeler are both still out for the Robins and, looking ahead to the Ipswich match, City assistant boss Jamie McAllister said they will be monitoring Baker day-by-day – with the club hoping not to force another injury on the defender if he is not fully fit.

“We’re monitoring him day to day. We have to make sure he’s right before we put him in contention for Saturday,” McAllister told the club.

“Once or twice recently we’ve had to take him off and we don’t want that to happen again. He’s doing everything he can to be fit because he’s a warrior; he wants to play but he has to be cautious and sensible as well with nine games to go.

Nathan Baker before kick-off

“We don’t want him to rush him back for two games and then he misses the final seven. We’d rather rest him for a couple of games and have him ready for the last seven, so we have to judge it day by day.”

Without a midweek league game, City played a behind-closed-doors against Cheltenham Town earlier on Tuesday, winning the friendly game 4-3.

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“Gary O’Neil (knee) has had some game time under his belt recently and we had a lot of boys playing who hasn’t had many minutes: Liam Walsh played well, Niclas Eliasson and Ryan Kent played, so It’s good to have them ready for when their chance in the first team comes.

“That [a team selection headache] is what the gaffer wants. The squad is coming together nicely and at the right time in the season.”